Sponne School
Towcester, NN12 6DJ · West Northamptonshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
5th of 22 secondary schools in West Northamptonshire we can score, 24 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 648 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.6/10 among them, against 7.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 54.5 · 72 | 46% | 3.34 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.27 · 70 | 38% | 2.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 51.4 · 76 | 15% | 1.16 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sponne School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 55.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 52.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.27 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.9 out of 10 among them, against 7.3 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Sports Leaders and Equestrian clubs, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,410 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,373. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the Progress 8 score of +0.27 translate into support for individual students? What specific support is offered to pupils who are not meeting the national median in Attainment 8?
What Ofsted said about Sponne School
Overview
Sponne School is described as a place where pupils are “rightfully proud” and feel “happy and safe” within a “calm and orderly ethos.” The report highlights a “good” quality of education, strong pastoral care, and a curriculum that prepares pupils well for their next stages, particularly noting “very positive” outcomes in science and mathematics.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a “strong culture of reading” and subject curriculums that ensure key knowledge is “embedded” over time.
- Personal development is a “significant strength,” with “very strong” careers provision and an “extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities.”
- Staff morale is “positive,” with leaders being “considerate of staff workload” and providing valued professional development.
- Sixth-form students are taught by “knowledgeable and skilled staff” and benefit from “excellent opportunities” for personal development.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, with teachers adapting teaching to enable access to the same curriculum as peers.
Areas to improve
- The school must sharpen its focus on disadvantaged pupils to ensure they “learn at least as well as their peers,” as current provision is “not as sharp as it needs to be.”
- Leaders should ensure parents fully understand the school’s “high aspirations and expectations” to enable better support for their children’s education.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 52.3 |
| 2024/25 | 52.0 |
| 2025/26 | 51.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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